Vocal - Guitar Separation using Figure 8 Mics

Many self-accompanied artists prefer to play while they sing. They may have a hard time achieving a satisfactory performance if they're required to overdub. And since the performance is the point of recording, there is benefit from trying to accommodate them.

Here's a technique that maximizes the separation between vocal and guitar (or other stringed instrument in the lap) while the artist sings and plays. The technique uses Figure 8 (or bidirectional) mics and places them to make best use of their pattern.

Some people react to this arrangement with concerns about phase coherence, but because of the high degree of separation, the secondary signal is too low to have an impact on the primary one.

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homebrewedmusic.com for recording and guitar info

kaleponi.com for Hawaiian slack key guitar

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[jordieg]

Great great great technique man. Thanks for taking the time and sharing this

[homebrewedmusic]

@jordieg I've been working on some old band tracks where we used this trick, and it's still amazing to be able to separate the vocal and the instrument so well.

Fran

[ascezik]

Great vid! One question. Will the headworn mic with cardioic characteristic separate the guitar from the voice as well as figure 8 mics? Thanks!

[homebrewedmusic]

I don't have any experience with a headworn mic, but it would at least give you a fighting chance because of the greater proximity to the vocal source.

It will help if you can bend the mount so the rear of the cardioid points directly at the guitar.

Should be an interesting session.

Fran

[DuskY1991]

Can I get ok results when there's just an SDC with cardioid/hypercardioid/omni pattern and an LDC with only a cardioid polar pattern?

If so, which pattern would i use on the SDC, and how should I then position the LDC relative to the SDC?

Great video.

[homebrewedmusic]

You won't get the level of separation with anything other than bidirectional mics.

You have to experiment with your mics in your room to figure out how to use them best. Look at the polar pattern diagrams on your mics, and recognize that it is a three dimensional pattern. The use that knowledge to place the mics.

Fran

[jessem131]

@franguidry Thanks for the quick reply. I'll probably just have to keep making do with one USB mic for the time being.

[franguidry]

@jessem131 The least expensive switchable mic I know is the CAD M179. Ribbon mics are naturally figure 8 and there are many inexpensive ribbons available these days, but they require very high gain preamps and their high frequency response is rolled off so some people find them too dark.

Fran

[jessem131]

Great video, could you recommend a pair of inexpensive mics for this technique?

[joelonsdale]

Great - I had exactly this problem today! If only I had watched this FIRST! Oh - and if only I had two figure-8 mics...

[franguidry]

@DuskY1991 I used a Rode NT2-A and a Rode NT2000.

Fran

[DuskY1991]

May I ask what exact microphones were used in this video? Thanks.

[teeno7]

he does mention this same method. but i would recommend reading it if you do anything with recording, and mixing. i feel like keeping the book to myself since its so good. 200% recommended read!

[franguidry]

Will he give me additional insight into achieving separation?

Fran